Military trainer aircraft Group build 2020

Willy, 

What version are you planing on building?

I ask because I don't think the T-38 ever had wingtip sidewinder rails.

The 2 seat F-5 did but that has leading edge slats. The T-38 did not have them.

The T-38A has a centerline hard point for a luggage container.

I think the T-38B had a centerline hardpoint. I don't believe any T-38s ever had 

wing hard points, but I could be wrong.

In any event I like the build so far!

You know mach, to be perfectly honest, I haven't the slightest clue what i'm doing . And that's saying a lot... Lol! I was thinking just a standard T-38A, I don't know very much about the plane, need to do much more research! Just i'm soooo busy, hardly any time to really dig into the build. I was thinking build the talon up as a fighter bomber trainer, but if that isn't correct to the plane, then i'll throw that out. Least it'll save me a pile more work! . Should I saw off the tip rails, to make it accurate? Or leave them be? Same story with the centerline fuel tank, put it on, or leave it off? I think i'll take some time in the next few week to do all my research, google pics will help a bunch. Thanks again mates .

Willy, the reason your kit has weapons is because it is an F-5B.  The angle in the leading edge where it meets the fuselage is not present on a T-38.  Other differences are in the intake shape and a deeper belly to hold the heavier landing gear of the F-5 variants.

That's what I thought jeaton01, Thanks!

Willy, The T-38B is the one used for bombing practice/training. I think it also has a gunsite, but no guns. 

I think I went a bit overboard:

Decal sets and a resin/PE set. Looks like fun!

More internet fun:

https://www.military.com/video/aircraft/jet-fighters/northrop-t-38-high-flight-1972/3049884895001

I'm not sure why the link is not clikable. Sorry.

It's all good Willy! Build it. The kit box says its a T-38 and I bet it has T-38 decals. 

It will look great!

Thank you mach . I guess I will do that .

The decals are old and yeller, but at least the kit still had them . I don't know if I should hang em' up in the window to de-yellow, or should I go with new decals? I can get a huge sheet from bna for under $20. What I can do in the meanwhile, is trim off the sidewinder rails, and cut down the leading edge extensions. Least it'll make it look more like the talon, and do a bunch of sanding on the belly to get it more to shape. I'll save all the stores for another build, they are quite worth saving. 

Instead of a T-6 Texan, put me also down for the Academy 1/48 T-33A Shooting star.

Thank you fellers :).

I'm in with this:

John

You can add these two to the T-38 I'm doing.  Hey, I have a year :)

Paint and decals arrived today as well.  This orange-yellow looks pretty close to the trainer color.  I ordered chrome yellow as well.

Updated!

keavdog, Great! I was hoping someone was going to T-45.

falconmod that looks great! Welcome! Do you have a photo of the decal sheet?

Here's the decals and the painting diagram for the T-38 thunderbird.

John

I am way too into this trainer build :)  I have a couple of kits on the bench to finish then it's trainer time - the 17th is coming!

Those decals look great falconmod! 

keavdod thats the spirit! Nice additional choices!

I see some distributors there, I assume you are building a car also?

Tomorrow is the big day!

With all the crazieness in the world right now, now is a good time to de stress by building

a model.

I'm getting ready. Gave everything a good washing:

Trumpy goodness:

Wolfy fun:

The resin aftermarket parts are VERY nice. I'm sure I'll use some. The Wolfpack seats look kind of basic. 

While I was digging out the Talon's I found a an old T-37 kit! I forgot I had it, hopefully its all there. The box is in bad shape.

Those are some nice looking kits there mach, miles better then my ole "T-38". I guess i'll get back to cracking at it tomorrow, have tons of filling/sanding/sawing ahead of me. You could say, with the amount of work I have to do, that I never started way ahead of time .

See ya'll tomorrow 

I've started the Trumpeter T-38 with a resin/PE aftermarket set.

That photo is the parts with a light coat of primer on them.

I started some hand painting the cockpit, both the stock pit and the resin set.

Light grey for the seats, medium grey for the tub, olive drab for the seat pad, and flat black on the seat top.

Nothing is glued yet.

Air Force pilots attempting to be funny:

Thanks!

More painting today.

The kit parts next to the aftermarket parts.

Just the 1st cut, cleanup to follow.

No new photo's, I'm just cleaning up yesterdays work.

I repainted the instrument panel covers flat black, I didn't like the semi gloss.

I'm almost done with the main instrument panels.

And then I notice this:

DOH!

I gloss coated the kit cockpit in prep for the decals.

The Aftermarket pit is coming along also.

Made about 5 mins progress before other things called my name. At least I removed the wing-tip rails, razor saw worked beautifully!

Other then that, nothing to report.

Looks like a nice clean job removing the AIM-9 rails.

Good job!

I'm decaling the kit cockpit now. Still not sure which one I'll use.

The decals look nice, but kind of cartoonish. I'm waiting for the Micro Sol to settle them down, I've already put on the Sol 3 times! The decal seems to finally be conforming to the gear handle.

Started my Magister this morning. This is a 1975 Airfix kit

Nice start tempestjohnny!

How is it going togther?

Today I actually put glue to plastic!

I glued the rear cockpit panel to the front seat bulkhead and rear housing.